“At some point it wont be a joke and were not ready.”
You are making a good point.
But I read that NASA is working on something that they can shoot at an asteroid that explodes as it hits it and at least it would make it change its trajectory.
But of course there are a lot of ifs associated. Will they see it early enough, are the explosives really strong enough to make a major change in its trajectory, and so on.
But at least they are working on it and we hope asteroids will not come and hit us anyway.
From a near-hit to a full-on hit. (Notice I didn't say "near miss." I refer you to the late George Carlin).
Or from a single-entry vehicle to a multiple-entry vehicle (which may or may not be better).